russell



(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. C. RUSSELL.

STEP LADDER.

No. 357,233. Patented Feb. 3. 1337.

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,( 2 SheetsSheet 2.

' H. .G. RUSSELL.

STEP LADDER;

No. 357,233. Pafiented Feb. 3, 1887.

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, UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

HENRY O. RUSSELL, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,233, dated February 8, 1887.

i Application filed September 2, 1886. Serial No. 112,501. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GR'ANMER Bos- SELL, of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to design a step-ladder which may be folded up into asmall space and yet be strong and stiff when set for use; andit consists, essentially, in pivoting the steps to their ver ticalsupports and'providing a series of hinged or pivoted braces which, when set, will hold the ladder in a very stiff and substantial manner, substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained. 1

Figure ,l is a perspective'view of my improved step-ladder set ready for use. Fig. 2 exhibits the ladder as it will appear when folded for transportation. Fig. 3 is aperspective back-view showing the ladder in the act of being folded up. Fig. 4 is a perspective enlarged detail of the top step. of the ladder, showing the manner of looking it.

A represents the steps, which are pivoted at a to the uprights or vertical supports B. The back legs or supports, 0, are pivoted at b to the uprights B, immediately below the top step, A, against which their ends butt, so as to prevent them opening up farther than the required distance.

. D are foot-braces pivoted at I one-on each of the uprights B.

Notches e are made in the bottom step, A, into which the ends of the braces D fit when the ladder is set for use, as shown in Fig. 1,

' fitting between the uprights B- When the ladder is set for use, as shown in Fig. 1, the bar H is set down in position by the pivoted plates I, which, when locked into the uprights B, as indicated in the drawings, hold the bar Hstiffly in position, and thereby lock the back legs, 0, and prevent them from folding in.

When it is desired to fold the ladder, the pivoted plates I are disengaged from the uprights B, when the bar Hmay be folded back onto the top step, A. The cross-braces F are lifted off their respective pins G and folded straight with the pa'rticula r lcg'on which they are pivoted, notches i being made so as to permit them to slip over the pin G. The footbraces D are removed from their respective notches, when by bringing the legs O toward the uprightB, as indicated in Fig. 3, the whole ladder may be folded up into the position indicated in Fig. 2.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A step-ladder in which the steps A are pivoted ata upon the uprights B and the back legs, 0, pivoted at b to the said uprights B, in

combination with the bar H, hinged upon the top step, A, and provided with pivoted plates 1, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A step ladder in which the steps A are pivoted ata upon the uprights B and the back legs, 0, pivoted at b to the said uprights B, in combination with the bar H, hinged upon the top step, A, and foot-braces D, pivoted near the bottom of the uprights B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A step-ladder in which the steps A are pivoted ata upon the uprights B and the back legs, 0, pivoted at b to the said uprights B, in combination with the cross-braces}? and pivoted foot-brace G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Toronto, August 27, 1886.

H. O. RUSSELL.

In presence of CHARLES (3-. BALDWIN, CHARLES H. RIOHES. 

